[Korean grammar] V-(으)ㄴ 적이 있다/없다 Trying New Things and Experiences

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인도 영화를 본 적이 있어요.
I've seen an Indian movie.


회사에 지각한 적이 없어요.
I've never been late to work.


이탈리아에 가 본 적이 있어요?
Have you ever been to Italy?


Grammar Focus:
-(으)ㄴ 적이 있다/없다 expresses having or not having a particular experience in the past and corresponds to 'have done/had’ in English. When the subject has had an experience, -(으)ㄴ 적이 있다 is used, and when the subject has not had an experience,-(으)ㄴ 적이 없다 is used. 
If the verb stem ends in a vowel, -ㄴ 적이 있다/없다 is added, and if the verb stem ends in a consonant, 은 적이 있다/없다 is added. 
Although the form -(으)ㄴ 일이 있다/없다 can also be used to express the same meaning, -(으)ㄴ 적이 있다/없다 is used more often.




-(으)ㄴ 적이 있다 is commonly combined with -아/어 보다 to form -아/어 본 적이 있다, which means to have the experience of having tried something.
• 저는 미국에 가 본 적이 있어요. 
I have been (successfully tried to go) to the U.S.
• 한국 음식을 먹어 본 적이 없어요. 
I've never tried (had the experience) Korean food.

Conversation:
A: 어제 명동에서 연예인을 만났어요.
Yesterday, I met a celebrity in Myeongdong.
B: 와, 난 지금까지 한 번도 연예인을 만난 적이 없어요.
Wow, I’ve never met a celebrity.

A: 시장에서 물건 값을 잘 깎아요?
Can you bargain well at the market?
B: 아니요, 깎아 본 적이 없어요.
No, I’ve never been able to bargain.

Notes:
-(으)ㄴ 적이 있다 is not used when describing things that are often repeated or are everyday occurrences. 
• 오늘 물을 마신 적이 있어요. (X)
• 화장실에 간 적이 있어요. (X)

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